acariciar
/akaɾiˈθjaɾ/ · B2 · verb
to caress
🐱 a-CARE-ess-iar: you show CARE with a gentle ESS-shaped stroke
Acariciar sounds like a + care + ciar. Caressing is touching someone with care. Spanish cariño (affection) is a close relative, so acariciar is to give someone cariño by touch.